never smoked an analog, but vaping is awesome!

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mohawkx

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Sorry, I didn't mean to come across as a troll! (and I am a girl, btw, not a guy). I have a lot of friends who vape even though they've never smoked, and the smokers-to-vapers in our group were never offended by them vaping nicotine juices. Also, the friend from whom I'm borrowing my current e-cig is a smoker and was really nice and encouraging about vaping, so I didn't realize it was a hot-button issue. :(

I actually found out about using nicotine for concentration while looking up scientific studies about different medications. I was going to start buying the nicotine patch, but then I remembered about vaping. I've been on a ton of different psych meds, but none of them have worked for me, and some have given me horrible side effects like Parkinson's symptoms (which luckily went away when I stopped). I'm on a medicine now that half works, but life is still pretty hard, especially in the concentration department. I already snack compulsively (it's pretty bad), so I'm extremely familiar with the hand-to-mouth dilemma. Actually, I'm sort of hoping this will be healthier solution for that as well, since my doctor is concerned about the weight I've been gaining from snacking while I stress over finishing college. So far vaping with my friend's e-cig has been pretty life-changing, and not just because it 'felt good.' I suddenly was able to pay attention to things for the first time in ages. I'm starting a master's program soon, so getting my ADD issues properly under control was absolutely critical for me.

BTW, not everyone goes vegetarian because they think meat is gross. Why would they make fake bacon and burgers if that was the case? Lol. Bacon vape and being able to participate in something my friends do is completely secondary to being able to focus on my work! Also, I'm going to vehemently reject the idea that people aren't allowed to mention being homosexual in passing. If I had mentioned I was stressed about introducing my boyfriend to a mom who didn't want me to date at all, would I be bringing up straight issues on the wrong forum? o_O

And I'm 22, Mohawkx, so you can kindly get off your high horse... I think it speaks to the strictness of my household that I still keep secrets from my mom-- I still haven't been able to summon up the courage to tell her I have a girlfriend, don't go to religious services, etc. I will certainly not be telling her about this unless she somehow catches me (which is unlikely, since we will soon be several thousand miles away).

Anyways, isn't there a no flaming rule on here? I would think that would be especially applicable to newbies who are following rules, but apparently not. :(

You have my sincerest apologies. It does sound like you have it all figured out. I wish you the very best of luck in controlling your medical conditions and in obtaining your master's degree. You are an adult and the responsibility for your choices are your's and your's alone. You will find the people here very responsive and compassionate to your questions and concerns. with the exception of a 67 year old judgemental fart such as I. :) I wish you the best. I did feel you bringing in your relationships was out of context but then again, that was just me.
 

NCC

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OK, she's won me over. Even though, Post #1 appeared to be a finely crafted troll post.

But, this concerns me a great deal ...
I have a lot of friends who vape even though they've never smoked,
There is a lot of concern in the community about non-smokers becoming nicotine slaves, people who wouldn't smoke a cigarette finding vaping to be something "not as dangerous" and therefore acceptible. I read your post, further explaining your circumstances. But, do all of your acquaintances who vape have ADD?
I was a vegetarian for 12 years. In that time I never had a desire to eat fake meat. But, as you indicate, vegetarians have various reasons for their diet.
BTW, not everyone goes vegetarian because they think meat is gross. Why would they make fake bacon and burgers if that was the case?
I've always wondered about that. You've shed a little light for me. And, for what it's worth, I'm no longer a vegetarian. But, I tried some Roast Beef juice, I love roast beef. The vape was horrid! Meat ain't meant to be vaped, LOL
 
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stillalive

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I'm a vegetarian because as much as I love the taste of meat, especially bacon, I love my animal friends even more. :) I'm a very peaceful and caring person, and even though I crave meat every day, it goes against everything I believe in to eat it. Being able to vape nice smells/tastes will be a really nice side benefit to vaping! It wouldn't surprise me if maple-bacon-french-toast ended up being my everyday liquid (if I end up vaping that much-- who knows).

Thanks for the apology, Mohawkx! I really appreciate it. I was feeling pretty horrible about seeming like a troll. =/ I've never exactly gotten the appeal of deliberate trolling, I have to admit!

And it's really too bad about the anti-e-cig crowd... I've always been super supportive of vaping, even when I had no interest in doing it myself. My concern with smoking has always been with the poisonous stuff in the analogs themself, not the nicotine or its addictiveness. Personally, I take so many prescription pills every day that I am "addicted" to (because I can't stop taking them without getting very sick and/or having withdrawal symptoms), I don't really see the difference between adding one more legal substance to the mix. I do plan on being very careful, though-- I expect to mostly vape 0mg or 6-8mg, with a stock of 11-14mg liquid on hand for finals week and the like!

I've done so much research into this... I was super nervous about jumping in because of the whole "ZOMG NICOTINE DEPENDENCY" argument, but I feel pretty good about my choice now that I've started. :)
 

Jennie O

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I'm a former smoker who has no intention of giving up the nicotine and don't think I'm a "slave" or addict, I just enjoy it and the ritual, without the smell and chemicals/carcinogens; why does that have to be negative? And this coming from other vapers? wow. A Slave is paying big tobacco to ultimately kill you.
Don't you dare pick up a cup of caffeinated coffee now either! :rolleyes:

And P.S. I would miss meat like crazy so that makes perfect sense, although I odn't know how it would be in vape form! LOL
 
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mohawkx

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That's not what I wrote at all. I have treatment/medication-resistant depression and a psychiatrist who doesn't believe in medicating for adult ADD/ADHD. I've tried everything possible without success, and nicotine is the only substance that has worked even marginally well for me. I'm glad it's so accessible and cheap, but if a medication worked better I would take it, regardless of cost. And as mentioned, I am on an anti-depressant, but it only works so-so for depression, and not at all for concentration problems.

I commend you for your grammer and sentence structure. You are wise beyond your years. The fact that your conditions hit every hot button in the vaping community and you have masterfully provided us with ample justification for your self medication with a nicotine habit is a credit to your intellect. I hope your mom doesn't find out.

As always, I wish you the best.
 

GMoney

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But, this concerns me a great deal ...
Quote Originally Posted by stillalive View Post
I have a lot of friends who vape even though they've never smoked,
There is a lot of concern in the community about non-smokers becoming nicotine slaves, people who wouldn't smoke a cigarette finding vaping to be something "not as dangerous" and therefore acceptible.

It concerns me also. But. it is something we will have to come to grips with and determine how best to handle it.

As, e-cigs continue to grow in popularity, I expect this to start happening more and more. Despite everything that has occured to try to wipe out smoking, young people have continued to start. Why wouldn't we expect, as e-cigs become more widely known , that many of them will turn to the e-cig instead of conventional tobacco cigarettes.

I fear, as you must, that this will be used to demonize e-cigs. However, I have to ask myself, if I was certain some was going to start smoking, knowing what I know, wouldn't I prefer the to use an e-cig instead? Or should we state categorically if they want to try an e-cig, they must go smoke a couple of packs of cigarettes first or they will get no help from us?
 
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NCC

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A couple things in your post make me feel you're at least partially addressing some things I said.
I'm a former smoker who has no intention of giving up the nicotine and don't think I'm a "slave" or addict, I just enjoy it and the ritual, without the smell and chemicals/carcinogens; why does that have to be negative? And this coming from other vapers? wow. A Slave is paying big tobacco to ultimately kill you.
Don't you dare pick up a cup of caffeinated coffee now either!
As I alluded to, I don't view nicotine as being any more harmful than caffeine. I would, however, state my absolute conviction that nicotine is far more addictive than caffeine. In the OP's case, I understand. But, you seem to be indicating it's hunky dory for any and all persons not presently addicted to nicotine to go ahead and vape. It is not perfectly harmless. Nicotine alone carries its own risk. Then, there's the unknown about inhaling some of the components of eLiquid long term.

I hate to see vaping develop a "cool factor" among young adults. Bad for them, and bad for the vaping community as a whole.
 

StormFinch

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We can all calm down folks. We've won, the first round anyway. E-Cigs are now tobacco products as proclaimed by the FDA. :)

Truthfully, although I would never encourage someone to vape just for S&G, if a person was contemplating getting their nicotine via cigarettes, a path that will probably lead to cigarettes, or e-cigs, I would recommend e-cigs every time. Theory has it that a lot of smokers are actually self medicating, most unconsciously, so why not skip the predecessor and all it's possible deadly consequences?

Stillalive, if you're sure that this is the path you want to travel, then welcome. Just realize that e-cigarettes are a relatively new technology and we might not yet know any possible health problems that could crop up. From the studies that been done as well as anecdotal evidence, they are however much healthier than burning tobacco.
 
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zadane

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Sorry, I didn't mean to come across as a troll! (and I am a girl, btw, not a guy). I have a lot of friends who vape even though they've never smoked, and the smokers-to-vapers in our group were never offended by them vaping nicotine juices. Also, the friend from whom I'm borrowing my current e-cig is a smoker and was really nice and encouraging about vaping, so I didn't realize it was a hot-button issue. :(

I actually found out about using nicotine for concentration while looking up scientific studies about different medications. I was going to start buying the nicotine patch, but then I remembered about vaping. I've been on a ton of different psych meds, but none of them have worked for me, and some have given me horrible side effects like Parkinson's symptoms (which luckily went away when I stopped). I'm on a medicine now that half works, but life is still pretty hard, especially in the concentration department. I already snack compulsively (it's pretty bad), so I'm extremely familiar with the hand-to-mouth dilemma. Actually, I'm sort of hoping this will be healthier solution for that as well, since my doctor is concerned about the weight I've been gaining from snacking while I stress over finishing college. So far vaping with my friend's e-cig has been pretty life-changing, and not just because it 'felt good.' I suddenly was able to pay attention to things for the first time in ages. I'm starting a master's program soon, so getting my ADD issues properly under control was absolutely critical for me.

BTW, not everyone goes vegetarian because they think meat is gross. Why would they make fake bacon and burgers if that was the case? Lol. Bacon vape and being able to participate in something my friends do is completely secondary to being able to focus on my work! Also, I'm going to vehemently reject the idea that people aren't allowed to mention being homosexual in passing. If I had mentioned I was stressed about introducing my boyfriend to a mom who didn't want me to date at all, would I be bringing up straight issues on the wrong forum? o_O

And I'm 22, Mohawkx, so you can kindly get off your high horse... I think it speaks to the strictness of my household that I still keep secrets from my mom-- I still haven't been able to summon up the courage to tell her I have a girlfriend, don't go to religious services, etc. I will certainly not be telling her about this unless she somehow catches me (which is unlikely, since we will soon be several thousand miles away).

Anyways, isn't there a no flaming rule on here? I would think that would be especially applicable to newbies who are following rules, but apparently not. :(

first thing, I have ADHD, and I've noticed that when I started smoking it was miles ahead of all the meds that I was prescribed (and stopped taking years before I started smoking). No more feeling like a zombie or any of that fun stuff. I can understand this

second: no one said vegetarians though meat was gross, it's just that 99% of juice that is meant to taste like meat is horrible.

third: There is a healthy number of homosexual members here. This is one of the few forums I have seen where that is a non issue. It's the way that your post hit every topic that people who hate ecigs are riding on that made this seem suspicious. You will find that no one here will give you any problems or hate for being who you are.

fourth: this is once again just do to the way your first post sounded, we are very protective here. When I first read your post I thought it was another troll also. But since you went far enough to respond and clear things up, this is also going to be a non issue.

I really hope your find what you are looking for here, welcome to the forums and to the family.
 

Grimloki

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I have ADD... I can't study unless I'm vaping. My mind just races, my anxiety builds, and I read the same sentence over and over.

I've quit smoking many times. I'm healthier as a non-smoker, and happier as a smoker. Vaping is the best of both worlds. The risks of vaping are risks I can deal with.

I use caffeine but I'm not an addict. I pull that off by staying below the thresh-hold of physical addiction. Its about 100mgs of caffeine per day... two shots of espresso pretty much pull that off. I get the stimulant effect, but none of the downside, or tolerance.

I'd suggest you follow a similar protocol, tailored for staying under the thresh-hold of nicotine addiction. I know.. I'm saying you can use nicotine but not be addicted. Call me crazy. The thresh-hold seems to be 5mg per day.

Establishing A Nicotine Threshold for Addiction the Implications for Tobacco Regulation

Much will depend on how you vape. If you hold it in or something, you will get more nicotine. Assume you are getting 30% of the nicotine in an e-liquid absorbed (but who really knows), with the other 70% doing other stuff (exhaled, turning into nicotine salts, whatever..) then out of a 6mg/ml juice, you'll get 2ml of nicotine per 10 drops.

Given that assumption, and the 5mg threshhold of addiction, then you can vape 6mg/ml liquids, stay at 2ml of juice a day (thats 20 drops)... thats enough for light vaping all day if you want, and hopefully avoid the addiction. I'd recommend you just stick to 6ml of nicotine in your juices, and vape a little more during finals. You can also mix a 0 and a 6 bottle for a 3ml juice if you decide you want to vape more.

Vaping is fun, and nicotine may help your ADD, but addiction sucks. Avoid it.
 

HarmonyPB

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I just want to say that if I found ecigs before I started on cigs I would have jumped on them!! Although I wouldn't have known how much I love nicotine and smoking and I wouldn't have been looking for an alternative in order to quit...so I guess it wouldn't have been reality, just nice to imagine. Anyway, I use nicotine to self medicate and I think it's wonderful :) Addiction is not so much fun, but you take the good with the bad sometimes right? Now I would never recommend vaping to a non-smoker (except for the circumstances already listed), but the whole "Don't start" argument is pretty moot. How many of us ex-smokers were warned by smokers not to start smoking? I know I was told that many times by many different people and I still did it! The antis are going to use everything they can against use. They have enough ammo with the "candy flavors" and "addictive nicotine" to last a lifetime of debate. Even if young adults started vaping instead of smoking I don't think it would make a difference.
 

stillalive

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I have ADD... I can't study unless I'm vaping. My mind just races, my anxiety builds, and I read the same sentence over and over.

I've quit smoking many times. I'm healthier as a non-smoker, and happier as a smoker. Vaping is the best of both worlds. The risks of vaping are risks I can deal with.

I use caffeine but I'm not an addict. I pull that off by staying below the thresh-hold of physical addiction. Its about 100mgs of caffeine per day... two shots of espresso pretty much pull that off. I get the stimulant effect, but none of the downside, or tolerance.

I'd suggest you follow a similar protocol, tailored for staying under the thresh-hold of nicotine addiction. I know.. I'm saying you can use nicotine but not be addicted. Call me crazy. The thresh-hold seems to be 5mg per day.

Establishing A Nicotine Threshold for Addiction the Implications for Tobacco Regulation

Much will depend on how you vape. If you hold it in or something, you will get more nicotine. Assume you are getting 30% of the nicotine in an e-liquid absorbed (but who really knows), with the other 70% doing other stuff (exhaled, turning into nicotine salts, whatever..) then out of a 6mg/ml juice, you'll get 2ml of nicotine per 10 drops.

Given that assumption, and the 5mg threshhold of addiction, then you can vape 6mg/ml liquids, stay at 2ml of juice a day (thats 20 drops)... thats enough for light vaping all day if you want, and hopefully avoid the addiction. I'd recommend you just stick to 6ml of nicotine in your juices, and vape a little more during finals. You can also mix a 0 and a 6 bottle for a 3ml juice if you decide you want to vape more.

Vaping is fun, and nicotine may help your ADD, but addiction sucks. Avoid it.

Lol, it's like we're on the same wave-length. The first half of your post described me so well, and the second half is my exact plan of attack! I'm planning on sticking to the lowest dose (and primarily using organics, although I'm not opposed to special treats, especially since I can't find an organic pomegranate anywheres.... hint hint) and vaping very lightly. My friend's e-cig has ridiculously high juice (somewhere in the 16-18mg range, she thinks), and I can only do a puff or two every 6 hours or so! I also expect to take nicotine breaks to lower any tolerance I might have... i.e. when I'm on my breaks and don't have to focus, I'll try to not vape or possibly vape some 0mg stuff.

I'm just so excited to have a little bit of my life back. My grades have plummeted the past year or two, and I'm having to take incompletes again this semester. :( But the good news is that when I vape, I can sit down and focus on whatever I'm trying to do. I don't wander off from doing the dishes with suds up to my arms, I don't write stories about secret agents in the middle of my research papers, and I don't freak out while trying to do projects for work. It's absolutely amazing. :D
 

xerais

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Reading this thread made me think about my dad, lol. He never smoked cigs, but picked up nicorette gum. I guess he was fishing with my uncle and asked for a piece and liked the way it made him feel.

10 years later he's still chewing the crap like crazy, ordering some generic version by the crate from oversees. Funny, I cant recall reading about the FDA's concerns over people getting addicted to the gum.

On a side note, and completely off topic, has anyone ever fallen asleep with a patch on? WEIRDEST DREAMS EVER.
 
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DarthSnoopyFish

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You are feeling the same effects that most of us felt when we started smoking cigs back in the day. It's new, relaxing, fun, and gives you a tremendous buzz. The one thing that is different is that most of us started on cigs and you are starting on e-cigs. I will say this... nicotine is VERY addictive, so if you decide to go on this venture, be prepared to become addicted. And if you do, do not move to real cigs.

I remember when I started smoking when I was a kid with my friends... it felt soo good and was fun. Good luck on whatever you decide, but be cautious.
 
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